The Walters State Community Concert Band presents “A Holiday Concert” on Sunday, Nov. 18, at 3 p.m. in the “Z” Buda Assembly Hall and Gymnasium. Conductors are Tom Shupe and Greg Woodruff. Admission is free.

The band is made up of Walters State students who take the class for credit and many community members who are in the band for the love of music. Many current and retired band directors are among its 80 members.

The concert will open with John Philip Sousa’s arrangement of “Star Spangled Banner.” Soloist Preston Cobb will be featured in Leroy Anderson’s “A Trumpeter’s Lullaby. Following a short intermission, the program turns to holiday favorites, including “Carol of the Bells,” “Sleigh Ride” and a salute to Irving Berlin.

No tickets or reservations are required. For more information, contact Walters State’s Division of Humanities at (423) 585-6922.

     Individuals can learn computer skills or have a free 30-minute consultation with a professional career counselor during November at Tennessee Career Centers. All classes are free to participants and funded through a partnership between Walters State Community College and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Reservations are requested.

    The Tennessee Career Center at Talbot is located in the Alpha Square Shopping Center on West Andrew Johnson Highway. Workshops planned there in November are:

•Job Readiness Series (plan your job search, develop resume and cover letter, interview techniques, impressive applications) – Nov. 6, 9:30-12:30 p.m. or Nov. 20, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

•Computer Literacy, Mouse Practice – Nov. 1, 9-9:30 a.m.

•Computer Literacy – Nov. 1, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

•Ex-Offender Job Readiness Workshop – Nov. 5, 19 or 26, 10-11 a.m.

•Computer Literacy, E-Mail Basics – Nov. 7, 9-10:30 a.m.

•Computer Literacy, Internet Basics – Nov. 7, 10:30 a.m.-noon

•Computer Literacy, Electronic Data Base Management – Nov. 8, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

•Computer Literacy, Electronic Publishing – Nov. 14, 9-11:30 a.m.

•Computer Literacy, Electronic Spreadsheets – Nov. 15, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

•Computer Literacy, Electronic Notes – Nov. 21, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

•Computer Literacy, Electronic Business Project Management – Nov. 27, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

•Computer Electronic Slide Presentations – Nov. 28, 2-4:30 p.m.

The Tennessee Career Center at Morristown is located in room 110 of the Clifford H. “Bo” Henry Center for Business and Technology. It is part of the Center for Workforce Education at Walters State Community College’s Morristown campus. Workshops planned in November are:

            •30 Minute Career Consultation (meet with a professional career counselor individually to discuss your job search, get feedback on your resume and job information) – Nov. 13 by appointment

           •Get to Know Your Career Center (see everything the Career Center offers with this orientation) – Nov. 15 – 9 a.m.-noon

          Both centers are part of the American Job Center network. Both offer resource labs with computers, printers and fax machines that job seekers can use at no charge. Centers also provide information about the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Tennessee Technology Center, Adult Education Program, Walters State Community College and Workforce Investment are available at the center. All services are free to anyone who is at least 18 years old.

          Anyone may attend the workshops at no charge, but reservations are required. To make reservations or to learn more, please call the Tennessee Career Center at Talbot at (423) 317-1078 or the Tennessee Career Center at Morristown at (423) 318-2341.

     Please note that the Tennessee Career Center at Talbot will be closed Nov. 12 in observance of Veteran’s Day. Both Centers will be closed Nov. 22-23 in observance of Thanksgiving.

 Walters State Community College students are doing their part to support service members stationed overseas. Four clubs have joined together in a month-long drive to collect items for care packages. Students have a lofty goal in this fourth year of the drive – topping the 5,000 items collected last year. Donation boxes are available on all four campuses through the end of the month.

The project is a combined effort of the Student Tennessee Education Association and the history, social science and psychology clubs. The drive got its start when a veteran told Jason Dixon, assistant professor of sociology, how much letters and packages meant to soldiers serving overseas. Dixon suggested the idea to students and they took it from there.

“Students are completely responsible for the drive to collect items. They decide where collection points will be and publicize it in their classes. I try to give them complete control,” Dixon said.

“A project this large is an excellent out-of-the-classroom learning opportunity. Students gain confidence, management, organizational skills, leadership skills and team-building skills. Individuals have even taken it upon themselves to approach corporations located here and get sizeable contributions,” he explained.

Students have added a request to the list this year – sports equipment.

“A member of one of my classes who has served suggested that we include sports equipment,” said Raquel Hall, a psychology major and a member of the Psychology Club.

“Our soldiers need to know that people back home support them,” said Megan Starnes, an elementary education major.

Alex Bauer, a pre-physical therapy major, said he is donating snack food so troops can have a little taste of home.

Items must be new and in a manufacturer’s wrapper. Suggested items include powdered drink mixes, crackers, beef jerky, trail mix, AA and AAA batteries, games, playing cards, crossword puzzles, books, scrapbooking materials, facial cleansing supplies, lotions, eye drops, tooth supplies, soap, deodorant, sunblock, note cards, pens, sports equipment, Ziploc bags and, perhaps the most valued, letters and cards of support.

Items donated will be distributed through Soldiers’ Angels, a nonprofit group formed to provide an easy way for the public to tangibly show support for troops even if they do not know an individual serving. Local recruiting stations actually recommended the Soldiers’ Angels. The organization has a warehouse/distribution center where packages are mailed in nearby western North Carolina.

“That took care of a big concern when we began. Mailing the packages would have been so expensive. We take what is collected over in one or two trips and this nonprofit handles the logistics from there, including postage,” Dixon said, adding that the cost of mailing 5,000 items might have made such a successful project impossible.

Donations from outside the college are welcome, particularly letters of support. In the past, elementary school classrooms have drawn pictures and contributed homemade cards. For details, contact Dixon at (423) 318-2569 or Jason.Dixon@ws.edu.

    Walters State’s Community Education Division plans courses to prevent workplace violence; work in confined spaces/trench excavation; and learn women’s self-defense techniques during August in Sevier County.

    “Workplace Violence: Prevention and Response” will be offered from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Aug. 7 in room 152 of the Conner-Short Center at the Sevier County Campus. While every business is required to have a fire evacuation plan, statistics show that a workplace violence incident is far more likely than a fire. This course will help companies take proactive steps to preventing workplace violence and, should an incident happen, increase the chances for survival. Topics include the typology of violence as developed by the FBI; five main elements of prevention as recommended by OSHA; the difference between hard and soft targets; personal safety; plans for an active shooter; and use of verbal de-escalation in all types of incidents. The cost is $175.

    “Trench Excavation” and “Confined Space Entry” will be taught on Aug. 14 at the Sevier County Campus from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (The room will be announced later.) “Trench Excavation” is in the morning with “Confined Space Entry” in the afternoon. Individual fees are $135. Attend both courses with lunch for $270. “Trench Excavation” is designed for all employees involved in trenching work including foremen, superintendents, engineers and others involved in underground projects. The class covers soil analysis, use of protective systems and standard requirements. The course also covers the identification of existing and predictable hazards. “Confined Space Entry” addresses the duties and standards for personnel who enter confined spaces, including rescue personnel. Topics include identification of permit-required spaces, use of gas monitoring equipment, proper ventilation, alternate entry procedures and permit requirements. 

    “Women’s Self-Defense” will be offered at the Sevier County Campus from 9 a.m.-noon Aug. 11 and 18. The class teaches defensive tactics for all skill levels. Learn simple, effective and proven ways to defend yourself against an attacker. These techniques are designed for women. The class will also go over the importance in developing a survival mindset and key strategies for avoiding conflict. This class is taught by Roger Overholt, a fifth degree black belt and a certified law enforcement trainer. The cost is $60 per person.

    For more information or to register, contact Amanda Hill at Amanda.Hill@ws.edu or (423) 798-7946. Online registration is available at www.ws.edu/ceed.

    Designed for busy, working adults, Walters State is offering its associate’s degree program in business in an accelerated format beginning this fall.           

    The associate of science in business and the associate of applied science in business management with a concentration in business administration will be offered through Walters State’s popular College Express program.           

    New students will first need to be admitted and complete required paperwork prior to an Aug. 1 orientation at the Morristown campus. Contact Frank Umbarger, distance education specialist at Walters State, at 423-585-6989, for more information.

    “College Express gives adult learners the chance to complete an associate’s degree in two years, attending one class a night and taking one class at a time,” said Umbarger.

    “Business was added to our College Express offerings because of the many working adults in business-related occupations. This gives them the opportunity to continue full-time employment and receive a degree in two years,” Umbarger also said.

    Business becomes the sixth program to be offered under the College Express format. Others include general studies, teaching, early childhood education, clean energy technology and pre-allied health.         

    Classes will meet on Thursdays from 5:30-9:30 p.m. beginning Aug. 16, a week before the regular fall semester begins at the college. 

    “Students are part of a cohort of working adults where teamwork creates a unique and supportive learning environment,” said Umbarger.

    The associate of science degree in business at Walters State is designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college university. It is a Tennessee Transfer Pathway program ,which guarantees the transfer of credits to all public and many private four-year Tennessee colleges and universities.

    The associate of applied science in management with a concentration in business administration is designed for students who want to enter the workforce immediately after completing their degree.

Dr. Linda Nelms has been named to the Performance Board

    A Walters State administrator will be evaluating Tennessee’s best business organizations this year.

    Dr. Linda Nelms, coordinator of community education health programs, has been named to the 2012 Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence Board of Examiners. As an examiner, Dr. Nelms will be responsible for reviewing and evaluating organizations that apply for a Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence award. The awards are given annually to organizations that demonstrate excellence in business operations and results.

     The Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence is patterned after the Baldridge Performance Excellence Program, the national standard for recognizing organizational quality. The Board of Examiners comprises experts from all sectors of the regional economy, including health care, service non-profit, manufacturing, education and government. All members of the Board of Examiners must complete extensive training in the Baldridge Criteria for Performance Excellence. Examiners take the skills developed during training and the assessment process back to their own jobs, benefiting and improving their own organizations in the process.

    Nelms lives in Dandridge. While she is based at Walters State’s Sevier County Campus, she coordinates non-credit healthcare courses on all Walters State campuses. Classes include certified nursing assistant, phlebotomist, medical records assistant, dental assistant and EKG assistant. Many who have lost their job due to the recession have attended these courses to pick up new skills in a short amount of time. These classes are offered based on the workforce needs of the immediate area.

    For more information on the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence, visit www.tncpe.org. For information on Walters State’s healthcare community education courses, contact Nelms at (865) 774-5852 or Linda.Nelms@ws.edu.   

Student Andrew Hyslip operates a thermal imaging camera with the assistance of Tom Sewell, dean of technical education at Walters State Community College. The camera is used to measure heat loss when conducting an energy audit.

    Beginning this fall, working adults can complete Walters State’s unique Associate of Applied Science in Clean Energy Technology through the college’s popular College Express format. College Express is an accelerated program designed for busy, working adults.

    “College Express gives adult learners the chance to complete an associate’s degree in two years, attending one class a night and taking one class at a time,” explained Cathy Woods, executive director of evening and distance education.

     “Clean Energy was added because of the many requests from contractors, power companies and HVAC companies,” Woods said. Those requests came through the program’s advisory board as well as general public inquiries.

     Students attend from 5:30-9:30 p.m. one night a week and finish the degree program in two years. Classes are taken in five-week blocks, so students only take one class a week. The program is a cohort, meaning students will start and finish the class together. 

     Walters State is one of only a few colleges to offer an associate of applied science in the field. Four core focus programs are offered within the degree: electricity, sustainable agriculture, transportation and building technology. College Express will focus on building technology.

      Clean Energy becomes the sixth program to be offered under the College Express format, with others being: general studies, teaching, early childhood education, and pre-allied health. Business will also be added this fall.

     Walters State’s Clean Energy Program was named an “in demand” future major by a University of Tennessee Center for Business and Economic Research and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission study in 2011. Tom Sewell, dean of technical education at Walters State, said that current students apply their knowledge on family farms and in small and large businesses. 

     “We know this field is growing. In five years, we know we are not going to have enough graduates for job openings,” Sewell said. He said the College Express format will work well for many technicians and contractors in the area who want to update or expand their skills.

     While the program is accelerated, the content will be the same, including the various “hands on” classes that are part of the curriculum. Subjects include general education courses like English composition and speech communications. Classes within the major include clean energy, energy efficiency, conventional energy technologies, clean energy planning and design, electrical circuits, electrical power, geothermal heating technologies, biomass technologies, LEED core concepts, LEED green building design and construction, and sustainable agriculture. The construction core was chosen over others because of the area’s employment outlook.

     “This curriculum is the most relevant area for this location. Construction and renovation has seen an economic increase. As the industry continues to recover, people with these new skills will be needed,” Sewell said.

     Classes will meet Wednesdays beginning Aug. 15, a week before the regular semester begins at Walters State. New students will first need to be admitted and complete required paperwork prior to the July 18 orientation.

     Class size is limited. For more information, contact Woods at (423) 585-2661 or Catherine.Woods@ws.edu.

MORRISTOWN, Tenn. --- The Walters State Community College softball team and golf coach Bill Gardner were recognized for outstanding achievement in the 2011-12 season recently.

The Lady Senators softball team was named a 2011-12 NJCAA All-Academic Team for maintaining a minimum of a combined 3.0 GPA as a team for the scholastic year. Walters State's softball team had the highest GPA of all institutions in the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association, and they were joined by
Chattanooga State and Cleveland State as All-Academic Teams.

The Lady Senators, coached by Larry Sauceman, finished the athletic season with a 46-7 record and a runner-up finish in the TCCAA tournament to eventual national champion Chattanooga State.

In golf news, veteran coach Bill Gardner was honored recently by being named the Eaton Golf Pride NJCAA Division II East Region Coach of the Year. Gardner took young team and led them to a ranking as high as fourth in the nation this season while winning one tournament against all four-year school competition.

The Senators also finished sixth in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in late May in Plymouth, Ind., rounding out another successful season on the links.

   Walters State Community College’s Division of Community Education will offer    “NESC: Clearances and Grounding Rules for Joint-Use Overhead Lines” July 10-12 from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the college’s Morristown campus. This covers the development and application of the new 2012 changes to the National Electrical Safety Code.

   This class will cover many aspects of the code and will be taught by Allen Clapp, president of Clapp Research Associates, a nationally-known expert on the NESC code. The cost of this class is $999. The class will meet in the Duggins Foundation Room of the Dr. Jack E. Campbell College Center in Morristown.

    The Servsafe Sanitation and Safety Course will be offered from 4-9 p.m. July 23-24 at the Sevier County Campus. This is based on the National Restaurant Association’s Educational Foundation program and includes a study of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point. The course covers federal and state laws and the basic principles of sanitation and safety. Students are ready to apply the knowledge gained in any food service operation. This class meets in room 119 of Maples-Marshall Hall. The class is $149 and includes a textbook.

   For more information, contact Amanda Hill at (423) 798-7946 or Amanda.Hill@ws.edu.

    A Walters State faculty member will have a voice in state-wide arts programming.

    Laura Ritter, assistant dean for humanities and head of the choral department, is serving on the Tennessee Arts Commission’s 2012 Citizen Advisory Panel in Nashville. Panelists offer advice on program planning and review grant applications.

    “I congratulate Laura on being named to this panel and commend the Tennessee Arts Commission for such a wise choice,” said Dr. Wade McCamey, president of Walters State.

     "She is already well-known as an advocate for the arts in our service area. Her activities extend far beyond Walters State. Here, she has played a big role in developing the next generation of artists and patrons,” McCamey said.

     As part of her two-year term, Ritter will also serve as a year-round resource to the Arts Commission staff and as advocates for the arts in their communities.

     “Our citizen panels consist of dedicated and informed individuals from across the state,” said Rod Reiner, deputy director of the commission. “These individuals provide an invaluable service to the commission and are critical to the grant making process.”

     “The caliber of individuals serving on the panels is impressive and we are so appreciative of their time and effort. Most of the individuals have strong backgrounds in or are active supporters of the arts. They make a tremendous contribution,” Reiner said.

     Panelists must be nominated and then submit a statement of their individual qualifications to serve on the advisory board.

     Under Ritter’s leadership, Walters State’s choral program has been named a Program of Excellence by the Tennessee Board of Regents. Many of her students have also been chosen to join Honors Choirs at national conferences. Ritter is also the artistic director of the Lakeway Children’s Choir and a member of Encore Theatrical Company. She serves as musical director for many area productions and is a member of Encore Theatrical Company. 

Walters State faculty members Wes Pierce, assistant professor of nursing, and Cheryl McCall, head of nursing, go over plans for this summer’s Men in Nursing Symposium. The free two-day event is open to young men 15-20. The camp is designed to give young men a full view of the profession and dispel some of the stereotypes. The camp will be held at the Sevier County Campus with transportation provided daily from the Morristown campus.

   Teenage boys rarely think about nursing when choosing career options. Walters State Community College’s nursing program wants to change that – beginning with a free two-day career symposium for young men June 27-28 at the Sevier County Campus.

    "This career symposium will expose young men to the wide range of specialty areas within the profession,” said Cheryl McCall, head of the nursing program. The program has been named a Tennessee Board of Regents Program of Excellence and has been recognized as one of the country’s top producers of registered nurses.

      “The camp provides information on nursing education and the role technology plays in healthcare today. We’ll also explore areas like flight nursing, nurse anesthesia, forensic nursing, critical care, emergency/trauma nursing and military nursing,” McCall said.

      The camp will also give young men a chance to meet role models, including Wes Pierce, assistant professor of nursing at the college and a retired major from the Army. He entered the military as a lab tech, took advantage of educational opportunities and spent most of his career in the Army Nurse Corps.

     Pierce said that nursing is attracting more men. About seven percent of all nurses now are male. The figure has nearly doubled in the last decade. Many young men, though, still think of nursing as a good field for women.

     “Nursing is a great field for men, too. The career offers a great deal of flexibility. You can work in critical care and then move to another area like ambulatory care. I don’t think many careers offer so many options,” Pierce said.

     “And nursing does offer job security. If you decide to move, you can almost guarantee a job will be waiting,” he said.

    The Men in Nursing Career Symposium is open to males ages 15-20 and meets from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. each day. Transportation will be provided from the Morristown campus, along with snacks and lunch. Registration forms are available online at www.ws.edu/academics/health/nursing. The event is funded by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. For more information, contact the college’s Division of Health Programs at ·423) 585-6981. 

PLYMOUTH, Ind. – For the second straight day, the Walters State golf team turned in a score higher than the previous round at the NJCAA National Tournament at Swan Lake Resort. And for the second straight day, the Senators moved up the leaderboard.

The fourth ranked Senators will enter Friday’s final round with a top five position within reach after firing a third round score of 312 to end the day at 919 (55-over par) and in solo sixth place with 18 holes to play.

South Mountain made a strong move to secure a national title by building a 22-shot lead going into the final round. The Cougars stand at 876 (12-over), resting second place Tyler (898). John A. Logan is third at 899, followed by Southeast Nebraska (900), Mississippi Gulf Coast (904), Walters State (919), Black Hawk (921), Kirkwood (921), Mott (922) and Columbus State (924) in the top 10 of the 19-team event.

Jack Gillespie fired a third round 74 after a pair of 76s to move into All-American contention, as he is tied for 17th at 226 (10-over par). Zach Briggs shot a second consecutive 79 to end the day tied for 46th at 231 after an opening 73. Matthew Chambers is a shot behind in a tie for 52nd at 232 (75-76-81), while Rafael Jackson is tied for 71st at 235 (79-75-81). Chase Atkins is tied for 86th at 238 (77-83-78).

Jimmy Kozikowski of South Mountain and Ryan Mulvany of Tyler are tied for the individual lead at 215 (1-under par).

The Senators are scheduled to begin their final round at 11:48 a.m. Friday, as they will be paired with Southeast Nebraska and Mississippi Gulf Coast.

     Walters State Community College invites prospective instructors to attend the 2012 Adjunct Faculty Recruitment Fair from 5-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29, in the Dr. Jack E. Campbell College Center on the Morristown campus. Deans and department heads will be on hand to meet applicants, discuss teaching requirements and review applications.

     “We’re looking for adjunct faculty members for both day and evening classes throughout our service area. We have campuses in Morristown, Greeneville, Sevierville and Tazewell. We teach classes in several other counties and we have many online courses,” said Linda Roberts, dean of distance education and assistant vice president for academic affairs at Walters State.

     Roberts said the fair began several years ago as an effort to draw more adjunct instructors and to make people aware that opportunities to teach part-time are available at the college. The fair has been so successful that it’s now an annual event. Roberts said the fair has added a diverse group of people to the teaching ranks.

     “People who are successful in fields outside the academic arena bring much to the classroom. Many of our adjunct faculty members are stay-at-home moms. Others own a small business or work for non-profit organizations,” Roberts said.

     Most courses do require a master’s degree to teach. The college also requires 18 graduate hours in the subject taught. Some technical courses only require a bachelor’s degree. Those attending the fair should bring completed application, resumes and transcripts. A Walters State application is available at www.ws.edu/about/jobs.

     Roberts said adjunct faculty members play a big role in providing classes to students in different formats: dual enrollment (offered at high schools), accelerated courses (five-week semesters), videostreaming and web-based courses. The college offers many classes online and as hybrids, with the class meeting a few times a semester while most of the work is completed online.

    Elesha Goodfriend was recruited in the first adjunct faculty fair and is teaching 13 hours this summer. She likes the flexibility and the extra time to spend with Haley, 6, her daughter.

    “Being an adjunct faculty member is very flexible. You can do as much or as little as you want to do. I teach three or four classes, but many have full-time jobs,” Goodfriend said. She teaches biology 1, 2 and concepts of biology. She also helps plan science courses aimed at middle school students through Walters State’s Kids College and Talented and Gifted (TAG) programs.

  “I enjoy helping students. Walters State has a good mix. Some students are right out of high school and others are returning to school. You have a chance to get to know students,” she said.

   Goodfriend also appreciates the chance to use new technology.

   Walters State is looking for adjuncts in many areas, including: American government, anatomy and physiology, art history, biology, chemistry, computer science, English, first aid, geography, health information technology, mathematics, nursing (with MSN), philosophy, political science, psychology, Spanish, special education, speech, violin and voice.

    Division deans and department heads will be at the Adjunct Faculty Recruitment Fair to meet with prospective instructors. For more information, contact the Office of Distance Education at (423) 585-6996 or e-mail Roberts at Linda.Roberts@ws.edu.

 Kaley Shepherd, left, and Courtney Bohanan stand with Ronnie Taylor, director of educational services at the Walters State Sevier County Campus. The students earned an associate degree from the college before earning their high school diplomas.

  The sound of “Pomp and Circumstance” may become too familiar for two Sevier County scholars. Both Kaley Shepherd of Gatlinburg and Courtney Bohanan of Sevierville are participating in two graduations this month. The pair graduated from Walters State Community College on May 4. This weekend, they'll graduate from Gatlinburg Pittman High School and Sevier County High School.

The two enrolled in dual enrollment college, a program that allows students to take Walters State Community College courses while still in high school. The college courses meet requirements for a high school diploma and an associate’s degree. Many students take a few dual enrollment courses. Area high school graduates often leave high school with a semester of college credits. Popular courses include English, psychology and history.

Shepherd and Bohanan are full participants. Both took one or two courses during their freshman year. Most of their junior and senior years were spent on the Walters State Sevier County Campus.

Why add the stress of college to what are often referred to as the best years of your life? Both wanted more challenging classes and both saw it as a way to save money on college courses.

“This has saved me more than $50,000 and two years,” said Bohanan. She will enter Carson-Newman College as a junior in nursing.

“My mom is a nurse and I always knew I wanted to do something in the medical field. I did think about medical school, but I want to have a family, too. I thought being in school for so long would interfere with my desire to be a mother. Nursing requires many of the same traits and enables you to positively impact many lives,” Bohanan said.

Shepherd plans on entering the University of Tennessee this fall and has been awarded prestigious Pledge and Volunteer Scholarships. She then plans on attending graduate school to study the psychology of corporations and organizations, leading to a career in marketing or human resources.

“At first, taking a full dual enrollment schedule was challenging. I had to learn how to manage my time,” Shepherd said. Gatlinburg-Pittman High School required her to be there for the first period, but that class was almost always a dual enrollment class offered at the high school. Most of her time was spent on campus.

 “I got to know the faculty members and administration very well. Now, I consider many of them friend,” Shepherd said. She wanted to thank two particular faculty members: Dr. Timothy Holder, associate professor of history, and Dr. Terry Rawlinson, assistant professor of psychology.

 “They were a big help inside and outside the classroom. Dr. Rawlinson gave me different strategies for choosing where I would go after Walters State and for graduate school,” Shepherd said.

 Likewise, Bohanan became good friends with Amanda Barnes, student service coordinator and Ronnie Taylor, director of educational services the Sevier County Campus.

 "I knew whatever question or problem I had, they would be able to answer it,” Bohanan said.

   The two think dual enrollment college is great, but warn that the program’s advantages do come with extra responsibility.

  “Make sure that getting your education now is your priority.  I did get out of high school early everyday, but I spent so much time studying and even had some night courses,” Shepherd said.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Staring elimination in the face after a stunning second round loss in the TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII tournament, the 11th ranked Walters State Senators turned their play up a notch.

    Playing some of their best ball of the season, the Senators used an offensive explosion over the last four games of the tournament, culminating in a 9-2 win over sixth ranked Columbia State in the championship game Friday afternoon at the Chattanooga State Baseball Complex.

    Walters State recorded 13 hits in the title game, giving them 57 hits in the last four games played in the tournament.

    On the mound, the duo of Milan Mantle and Zach Walton were dominant. Mantle (7-1) went six innings and gave up only two earned runs on three hits while striking out 12 batters in his longest outing of the year. Walton kept his spotless earned run average intact by working three scoreless innings to get his first collegiate save.

   With the win, the Senators improve to 52-9 on the season after going 5-1 this week in the tournament. The title win is also the sixth TCCAA tournament crown for Coach Ken Campbell in his 13th season.

    The loss drops the Chargers to 42-12 on the season. Both teams will play in the NJCAA East Central District tournament next weekend at Middle Georgia College in Cochran, Ga., with a spot in the JUCO World Series up for grabs.

    After two scoreless innings to begin the game, Walters State got on the board in the third. Marcus Davis, who smacked a double off the right field wall in his first at-bat of the game, drew a two-out walk before Jake Ellison ripped a line drive two-run homer to left-center to put the Senators up 2-0.

    The lead doubled in the fourth, as Walters State chased Columbia State starter Logan Gray from the game. Michael Davis led off the inning with a double, and Reid Mathews followed with an RBI double to plate Davis. Ryan Webster added an RBI single, pushing the lead to 4-0.

    Mantle held the Chargers without a hit until Alex Vondohlen laced a single in the fifth, and he kept them off the scoreboard until the top of the sixth. Columbia State loaded the bases with no outs, and two runs scored on a hit batter and a fielder’s choice before Mantle recorded his 12th and final strikeout to get out of the inning with a 4-2 lead.

   The offense got the runs back and more in the bottom half of the sixth. Andrew Allen started the two-out rally with a two-run single, and Kendall Keeton followed with an RBI single. Marcus Davis drilled a run scoring double to right, making it 8-2.

    The Senators closed the scoring in the eighth. Allen led off the inning with a double, and after two outs were recorded, Ellison lined a double to the gap in left-center to run the tally to 9-2.

   Walton allowed only one base runner in his first two innings before putting two on base in the ninth, but he got a grounder and a fly to center to end the game.

   Allen had three hits to lead the Senators, while Ellison, Mathews, Michael Davis and Marcus Davis each had two hits apiece in the win.

    Columbia State had five different players record a base hit in the loss. Gray (3-3) was the loser, giving up four earned runs on five hits in three innings.

     CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Walters State Lady Senators set their sights on the first ever Tennessee Community College Athletic Association title and trip the NJCAA World Series when the season began in February.

     On Wednesday, the Lady Senators fell just short of their goal, as they were defeated 2-0 by No. 2 Chattanooga State in the TCCAA-NJCAA Region VII tournament title game played at Chattanooga State.

     Walters State opened the day with a 5-2 victory over No. 15 Volunteer State, the defending league champions, to advance to the title game where one swing of the bat proved to be enough for the home standing Lady Tigers.

     Shelby Johnson’s two-run home run in the top of the third was the only run producing hit of the game and helped Chattanooga State advance to the NJCAA World Series in St. Georg, Utah, next weekend.

     With the win, the Lady Tigers swept through the tournament and improved to 56-4 on the year. The loss brings an end to the most successful season in Walters State softball history, as the Lady Senators set a school record with a 46-7 record.

     Walters State freshman pitcher Kelsey Weddle, in her most pressure packed starts of the season, pitched gem in a losing effort. She allowed five hits, three of which were infield singles, and struck out three while making only one mistake in the 71 pitches she fired.

     Chattanooga State’s Ashley Czechner, who was named the tournament MVP, was just a little better, scattering four hits with four strikeouts in seven innings worked.

     The Lady Senators had a pair of base runners in scoring position in the fourth with one out but failed to score, and they had two more on in the sixth and came away empty handed. They made one last effort to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh on a double by Latosha Rectenwald with two outs, but Czechner got a popup to end the game.

    Rectenwald and Brittany Hefner each had two hits in the contest to lead the Lady Senators at the plate.

    In the opening game of the day, Lindsay Loudermilk belted a solo homer in the sixth inning to break a tie and Haley Taylor added a two-run shot later in the inning to give the Lady Senators insurance in a 5-2 victory over Volunteer State (47-9) to end their season.

     Loudermilk had a big game with her game winning homer and a two-run double in the third that gave Walters State the lead. Taylor and Hefner each added two hits in the win.

     The Lady Pioneers scored their first run on an error and Heather Daniel added an RBI double in the fifth to tie it before Loudermilk put the Lady Senators ahead to stay in the sixth.

Ashley Rhyne got the win after giving up two unearned runs on eight hits while striking out nine batters in a complete game effort. Rhyne, Loudermilk and Hefner were each named to the All-Tournament team for their efforts.

    Shelby Jo Fenter, one of the nation’s top pitchers, was saddled with the loss after allowing five earned runs on six hits in 5.1 innings.

     Don’t call Thomas Talley a victim of the recession. Like many other nontraditional students in Walters State’s Class of 2012, Talley refused to let the unexpected loss of a career define the second half of his life. Talley will walk across the stage Saturday to receive his Associate of Applied Science in Nursing – and then into a world of opportunity.

     "Looking back, losing my job was probably the best thing that ever happened to me,” Talley recalled.

    He admits those weren’t his first feelings back in 2008, when everything tumbled around him.

    After establishing himself as a young professional in Knoxville, his career as a mortgage banker ended when a stranger walked into the office and announced its closing. Then, he divorced. Finally, his brother was diagnosed with a rare, terminal illness.

    That last one is actually what directed him to his new career. While caring for his brother, he saw health professionals in action. He saw the impact those individuals had on his family and the difference they made in his brother’s last months.

    “He and his girlfriend had been together for 10 years but had never gotten married. When the nurses found out they wanted to get married, they took care of everything – the dress, the tux, the cake. Our pastor performed the wedding. The nurses didn’t even know us but they made such a difference,” Talley said.

    “By that time, I had moved back to Morristown and knew Walters State’s nursing program had an excellent reputation. That’s how I got started,” Talley said. While he was taking prerequisites, he also investigated the college’s physical therapist and respiratory care programs. In the end, he decided on nursing.

    Everyone was helpful, but everyone was also very honest. He credits the honesty of Kristen Asbury Rich, an assistant professor of biology, with getting his attention early after his return to school.

    “I was in her anatomy class and she just said ‘this class is hard, but if you don’t do well in this class, how are you going to be able to get through nursing,’” Talley said. Rich didn’t just stop with the announcement. Like a lot of professors, she made time for him when he needed help and became a mentor as well as a professor.

    Talley also had another valuable asset when he returned to college – the support of his family, especially his dad and his children, Epiphany, a freshman at the University of Tennessee, and Joshua, a senior at Knoxville West High School. His girlfriend, Stacie Allen is a certified nurses assistant and provided a lot of support and encouragement.

    “They are excited and proud. We’ve been very competitive with grades. I’ve also had a lot of support from good friends.”

    Talley’s education was paid for by a variety of sources, including funding from the Smoky Mountain Area Workforce Board (LWIA 2). The funding comes from the Workforce Investment Act and is administered through an agreement between Walters State Community College and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.  This started with a visit to the Tennessee Career Center in Talbott, where he met with Cheryl Harold, a career center specialist.

    “I remember Thomas well,” Harold said. “He is like many of the people in our area hit hard by this recession. People worked hard and were dedicated to their jobs, only to have everything fall apart.

    “Thomas jumped into school, excelled in his classes and prepared for a new direction in his life. The best part of my job is seeing people like Thomas succeed with the help of WIA funding.”

    Although WIA funding is limited by what is awarded by the federal government, Harold said that funds are usually available to help those being forced into a career change due to a lay-off or plant closure.

    As Thomas prepares for the state exam and considers his options, he does so with the confidence that is future depends more on him, and less on routine business cycles. He also has a new mission – introducing nursing to more males.

    “I never thought of nursing when I left high school. There were too many stereotypes and men just didn’t become nurses. Even today, if I enter a patient’s room, many patients think I’m a doctor. Nursing is a great career for males,” Talley said. 

 ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. — The 10th ranked Walters State Senators closed their regular season Monday with an extra-inning road victory over Milligan College.
    The Senators spotted the homestanding Buffaloes a 4-0 lead after three innings, but they held them to only five hits in the last seven innings. Walters State scored two runs in the eighth to tie the game and five more in the tenth inning to seal a 9-4 victory.
   With the win, the Senators close the regular season schedule with a 47-8 record, which is the most regular season wins since the 2008 season that ended with a trip to the JUCO World Series.
   Walters State did not get off to a good start in Monday’s game, as starter Dale Innes was tagged for four earned runs on four hits in three innings. Milligan plated a pair of runs in the second and third innings to take a 4-0 lead.
   The Senators began their comeback in the top of the fourth. Marcus Davis led off the inning with a double off of Buffaloes starting pitcher Tanner Strange, and he advanced to third on a wild pitch. Davis scored on a grounder by Shane Riley to cut the deficit to 4-1.
   In the sixth, Walters State took advantage of a pair of errors to score again. Riley singled and advanced to second on an error before scoring on a fielding error to make it 4-2.
   The score remained the same into the eighth when the Senators finally pulled even. Davis singled and Jake Ellison was hit by a pitch to open the inning, and both moved up a base on a wild pitch. Riley delivered again with a two-run single, tying the game at 4.
   After a scoreless ninth inning, Walters State made sure the game only went one extra inning. Milligan brought in Drew Crawford to pitch, and Ellison greeted him with a leadoff double. Colin Bennett walked and Michael Davis reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases with no outs, and Reid Mathews drove in a run with a grounder to give the Senators the lead. Ryan Webster added a two-run base hit, while Matt Harrell and Taylor Martin each knocked in a run to make the final 9-4. Riley, Webster and Marcus Davis each had two hits in the win, with Riley driving in three runs and Webster totaling two RBIs.
    Chase Cunningham (3-2) got the win after working two scoreless innings of relief.  Zach Bernard had three scoreless innings and Zack Walton added two strong innings as well in the win.
   Tyler Huffine and Corey Brown had two hits and a pair of RBIs apiece in the loss. Crawford allowed five runs – four earned – on three hits in one inning to take the defeat. Strange tossed six innings and gave up two runs – one earned – on four hits as the starter.
    The Senators will open play in the TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII Tournament on Monday, May 7, at 10 a.m. against the winner of the play-in game between seventh seeded Motlow State and 10th seeded Cleveland State. Walters State is the No. 2 seed in the tournament that will be played at Chattanooga State.
 

    MORRISTOWN, Tenn. – On a day that the Walters State softball program honored six departing sophomores in their final home games, the Lady Senators split a doubleheader with the 15th ranked Volunteer State Lady Pioneers.

     Sophomore Ashley Rhyne had a huge game in the opener for the Lady Senators, as she tossed a two-hit shutout and hit a three-run homer in a 7-0 victory.

    The nightcap wasn’t as kind to the home team, as they fell behind 6-0 after three innings and saw a late rally fall short in an 8-5 loss, which was their first home defeat of the year.

    With the split, Walters State finishes the regular season with a program best 42-5 record, and they end TCCAA conference play with a 15-3 mark that relegates them to the third seed in the upcoming NJCAA Region VII tournament on May 6-9 at Chattanooga State.

   The Lady Pioneers end their regular season at 45-7 overall and 16-2 in league action, which puts them in second place behind second ranked Chattanooga State.

    Volunteer State got a runner to third base in the first inning of the opener against Rhyne, but they failed to score and never threatened again.

    The Lady Senators put the only runs they would need on the board in the third. Samaria Curtis ripped a two-out, solo homer off Vol State starter Shelby Jo Fenter, and Courtney Hutcherson singled and scored on an error to make it 2-0.

    Walters State padded the lead in the fourth. Brittany Hefner doubled and moved to third before Courtney Davis drew a walk. Rhyne followed with a three-run blast, pushing the margin to 5-0.

    The Lady Senators put the final runs on the board in the fifth. Randi Wimpy walked and moved to second on a single by Lindsay Loudermilk. Hefner tagged an RBI double, and Loudermilk scored on a wild pitch to bring the final tally to 7-0.

     Rhyne (22-1) got the win and moved past Lynsi Pierce as the all-time wins leader for the Lady Senators with 44 career victories. She allowed two hits and recorded 11 strikeouts while walking six in win.  Fenter (23-2) took the loss after giving up seven runs – six earned – on eight hits in a complete game effort.

    In the nightcap, the Lady Pioneers recorded four runs on five hits in the first inning and added a two-run homer in the third by Heather Daniel to take a 6-0 lead.

    Rhyne put the Lady Senators on the board in the fifth on an RBI single, and Walters State pulled back in it in the sixth. Davis, Emilee Solomon and Curtis each drove in runs and another scored on an error to cut the lead to 6-5, but they could get no closer after stranding two runners in scoring position.

   Volunteer State added two unearned runs in the seventh, and the Lady Senators brought the tying run to the plate with one out in the bottom of the inning before being retired to end the game.

    Ali Austin (10-3) got the win after allowing five earned runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings. Cheyanne Knepper tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief to record a save.

    Kelsey Weddle (18-3) took the loss after being knocked from the game after facing one batter in the second inning. She gave up four earned runs on six hits. Lindsey Vaught and Rhyne each allowed two runs – Rhyne’s unearned – in relief.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Walters State freshman catcher Randi Wimpy was honored Wednesday afternoon by the National Junior College Athletic Association by being named the NJCAA National Player of the Week for her performance last week.
    Wimpy, a graduate of Woodland High School in Cartersville, Ga., helped lead the Lady Senators to a 4-2 record last week by going 13 of 19 at the plate (.684) including an 11 of 13 showing in four conference wins over the weekend.
    Wimpy had six home runs, including a grand slam, 13 runs batted in, a double, six singles and scored 11 runs while also drawing a pair of walks.
    For the season, Wimpy leads the nation in batting average (.649) and is tied for the national lead in home runs with a school record 26 round trippers. She is also fourth in the nation and tops in the TCCAA in RBIs with 78, and she leads the country in on base percentage at .685 for the year.
    Wimpy and the Lady Senators (41-4, 14-2 TCCAA) will close out the regular season Friday when they host 15th ranked Volunteer State (44-6, 15-1 TCCAA) at the Lady Senator Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.